Henri II de Lorraine was painted in Brussels during Van Dyck's visit to the southern
Netherlands in 1633–1634. Henri II had fled from the French duchy of
Lorraine after the failure of his intrigue against Louis XIII's prime
minister. With ostrich plumes in his hat, armor scattered at his feet, and a
steel gorget or throat guard underneath his lace collar, the duke is among
the most flamboyant sitters Van Dyck ever portrayed. The bachelor also has a
lovelock—a curl grown longer than the rest of his hair—in which a
gallant would sport ribbons that were favors from his lady friends.